“A guiding light.”

This is how Lakas-CMD President and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez sees Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as new Lakas-CMD leader.

Mayor Sara was elected as the new chairman of the party and the vice presidential candidate of Lakas-CMD.

Former chairman of Lakas-CMD Senator Ramon Revilla was elected as co-chairman.

“We are delighted and honored that Mayor Sara accepted the chairmanship of Lakas-CMD. We congratulate her for taking on this important role and we are confident that she will continue to inspire us more in working towards victory in the May 22 national elections,” Romualdez said during the hybrid ceremony attended by Lakas-CMD officials and members nationwide.

“In fact, we consider Mayor Sara as our guiding light, and there is no doubt that her leadership experience and heart for public service will lead Lakas-CMD to greater heights and broader horizons in the coming months,” Romualdez added.

Revilla nominated Duterte in the event as Lakas-CMD party chair. Later, Romualdez nominated Revilla as co-chair and the party adopted the motion.

“Our chairman has graciously offered his position as Party Chair to Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. I move that we approve the nomination,” Romualdez said, who led the adoption of the motion at about 1:12 in the afternoon following the overwhelming support of Lakas-CMD officials and members.

Mayor Duterte immediately presided over the National Council Meeting after her election.

Lakas-CMD officials led by Romualdez, Revilla, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Wee Palma II, Quezon City Rep. Anthony Peter “Onyx” Crisologo, Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr., Negros Occidental Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, Lanao del Sur Rep. Mamintal Adiong of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Davao de Oro Rep. Way Kurat Zamora, Mayor Lani Revilla and others expressed their full support to Mayor Duterte during the event.

She will run in tandem with former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).

SARA THANKS LAKAS FOR TRUST, CONFIDENCE

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio expressed gratitude to the Lakas-CMD for its trust and confidence as she was elected as chairman of the party.

In her speech in the virtual national meeting aired on FMR Philippines, Mayor Sara said she is accepting the challenge given to her not just by the party but by the Filipinos who believe and support her endeavor.

“Isa pong karangalan para sa akin ang makasama ang mga masisipag at magagaling na mga opisyal at kasapi ng Lakas-CMD Party sa National Council Meeting ngayon araw,” said the Davao City mayor adding that she cannot turn down the calls of the Filipinos for her to join the race.

“Kasabay po ng ating pagtanggap sa posisyon bilang chairperson ng partido, taus-puso akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong kompyansa at tiwala sa akin,” she added.

According to Mayor Sara, she was honored and humbled by the big support of the Lakas-CMD to her candidacy, her first in the national elections.

“Malaki at mahalaga ang ibinigay na suporta ng partido sa akin upang matugunan ko ang hamon ng ating mga kababayan na sumabak sa pambansang pulitika,” she said.

“Sa totoo lang, hindi ko kailanman inakala na darating ang araw na ito. Masaya po ako sa Davao City. Marami pa sana akong gustong gawin bilang mayor ng aming siyudad. Pero alam po natin ang nangyari,” the Mayor added.

Mayor Sara said she wanted to help the government in addressing the pandemic brought by the COVID-19 which has resulted to deaths, anxiety, uncertainty, enormous burden to the economy, education, health, and other sectors and institutions.

“Maybe the road to recovery will be a long highway. And maybe it will be harder than it seems. But I am confident that Lakas-CMD and its party members across the country will never abandon their commitment to the people .

“I am confident that we will continue to be guided by the principles that the party has been built on — good governance, economic development, people empowerment, sustainable development, and social justice,” she said.